This article originally appeared in d20 Weekly
Heroes of High Favor: Half-Orcs
Published by Badaxe Games
Written by Benjamin Durbin
64 6" × 9" b&w pages; $9.95
The second in the Badaxe Games' line of digest-size race books designed with the player in mind, Half-Orcs is actually a step up from the well received predecessor. While the writing and design are first class, it's really the topic itself that accounts for the extra accolades.
Half-Orcs is not for the faint of heart, and author Benjamin Durbin makes no effort to hide this fact. This is for characters that revel in the bloodthirsty and savage ways of their orcish parentage; those who want to play a half-orc who turns his back on his barbaric heritage need not bother with this book. And therein lies its great appeal, because not only does this offer an angle rarely explored, but it also makes the information contained within accessible and rewarding to player and GM alike. A Game Master who gets his hands on this book can lay a whole world of hurt on his hapless PCs.
A quick note about the format and intentions of the Heroes of High Favor line is perhaps in order. They're designed to provide multiclass options as pertains to the favored core class of the race in question; for half-orcs, that means the barbarian class. To that end we get a new prestige class for each multiclass possibility (barbarian-bard or barbarian cleric, by way of example), as well as a host of new feats and skills.
The format used for the prestige classes is refreshing. Not only do we get the standard . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: October 30, 2002
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